Comparative Osteoarchaeology: A Practical Workshop
Eagle Lake Field Station - July 21-23, 2008 - Thanks for Attending!
Fragmentary
osteological materials can pose unique problems due to their inherent
similarities, changing ethical concerns, and maintaining compliance
with regulations (e.g. NAGPRA). The evaluation of significance of any
archaeological resource is predicated upon the ability to identify
what the resource is. The knowledge of the potential range
of interpretations that may be generated from the analysis of the resource
is also an important skill.
This workshop is designed to:
- Provide fundamental information on osteoarchaeological remains
- Discuss current research within the field
Attendees will...
- Gain skills that will help remediate problems associated with osteological
remains
- Gain experience in practical and theoretical uses of osteological
materials from an archaeological context
This workshop evolved out of a series of presentations and extended
practical sessions on distinguishing human from non-human remains for
the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the Society
for California Archaeology between 1997 and 2005. The current
variant of this workshop on 'Osteoarchaeology' was prepared for heritage
professionals under contract with the California Department of Transportation
between 2006 and 2007. We have assembled a team of experienced
professionals whose expertise spans vertebrate osteology and ecology,
archaeology, zooarchaeology, human osteology, isotope analysis, molecular
anthropology and cultural resources management. Integrated with
and anchored by practical hands-on experience, this workshop may be
of value to CRM professionals, heritage resource managers and practicing
archaeologists.
Eagle Lake Field Station is located 26 miles northwest of Susanville
in Lassen County, California. For more information regarding the facilities,
click here.
Note that the fee of $885 includes:
Enrollment is closed
For more information contact:
Melanie Beasley, 530-898-4029
Comparative Osteoarchaeology Workshop
Individuals listed are taking the lead role in the presentation/lab/discussion;
in many instances, all available instructors will participate in the
activity. Note schedule may change.
Click here to download the tentative
schedule
Sunday Afternoon-PM: Arrive at Eagle
Lake Field Station |
|
| Monday AM |
|
A. Osteoarchaeology:
- Welcome and Introductory Remarks
- Workshop Objectives, Organization and Structure
- Assessment
B. Identification, Interpretation and Assemblage Variability |
II. Bone Structure and Terminology: Some Basics - Bayham,
Beasley |
A. Bone Composition and Development
B. Directional Terms
C. General Skeletal Overview |
|
A. Fishes
1. Taxonomy & Osteology - Lecture
2. Fish Osteology Lab |
|
| Monday PM |
|
B. Birds
1. Taxonomy & Osteology - Lecture
2. Bird Osteology Lab |
C. Mammals
1. Mammalian Taxomony & Osteology - Lecture
2. Mammalian Osteology Lab |
|
| Monday Night - OPTIONAL! |
|
Amphibians and Reptiles - Taxonomy & Osteology |
|
Archaeofaunal Identifications - Kingsley Cave
Fauna |
|
| Tuesday AM |
|
A. Relevance in Archaeology and Forensic Anthropology
1. NAGPRA - Overview and Ethical Considerations
B. The Human Skeleton:
- Generalized Characteristics
- Distinguishing Features
- Basic Sex Differences
- Comparative Vertebrate Evaluation
C. Lab Stations and Activities: Common Areas of Confusion
1. Bone Growth and Epiphyseal Fusion
2. Distinguishing Teeth and Cranial Fragments
3. Distinguishing Deer from Human Remains
4. Distinguishing Humans from Bears, Dogs, and Sea Mammals
5. Distinguishing Human Hands/Feet from Bear Paws
6. Fragmented Materials
|
|
| Tuesday PM |
|
- Archaeology and Ecology
- Archaeological Research in the Eagle Lake Basin |
Tuesday
Night - Optional Local Field Trips! |
|
| Wednesday AM |
IV. Osteoarchaeological Analyses and Current Research
Issues |
A. Selected Current Topics and Issues:
1. Resource Intensification, ,Depression and Depletion: The Evidence
- Broughton |
2. The Middle Archaic Ascendance of Hunting: The Debate - Bayham,
Broughton |
3. Historical Ecology - The Relevance of Zooarchaeology to Managing
Natural Resources - O'Brien |
VII. Osteoarchaeological Research Frontiers and Analytical
Techniques |
A. Dental Increment Analysis - Procedures, Inferences and Research
Potentials - O'Brien |
|
| Wednesday PM |
B. Isotope Analysis of Human Remains - Bartelink |
C. Ancient DNA Analysis - Shook |
VIII. Workshop Assessment and Final Remarks |
Estimated Completion Time: 3:00 PM, BBQ |
|
